John Swinney today again declined to commit to supporting the Rosebank oil field despite being reminded that one of his own former advisers, now an SNP MSP, says the party supports it.
Conservative leader Russell Findlay reminded parliament that he had asked the First Minister five times last week to say whether he was in favour of it being approved.
At First Minister’s Questions today he said Jack Middleton, the member for Aberdeen Central, had had written to him last week saying: “We agree that the Rosebank oil field should be given the green light.”
Mr Findlay added: “So will John Swinney take this chance to put on the record his unequivocal support?”
Just as last week, Mr Swinney avoided a yes or no answer, saying: “I have set out the government’s position on oil and gas developments.”
Mr Findlay, reminding the SNP benches that it once championed “Scotland’s oil”, challenged the First Ministerto tell his MPs to vote against the UK Labour Government’s Energy Independence Bill which will prohibit new oil and gas development.
In response, Mr Swinney said there were some measures in the bill his party supports, such as measures help those affected by fuel poverty, while there are others that his party opposes. He focused his response on the ability of Scotland to achieve its energy goals through independence.
Shaking his head, Mr Findlay accused him of “desperate deflection” and standing idly by while one of Scotland’s most crucial industries is destroyed.
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